God in the Mount, Treatise (1 of 2)
GOD IN THE MOVNT, OR, ENGLANDS REMEMBRANCER.
Gods 2. royall Prerogatives or attributes, MercieMercy and Iuſtice.THE omnipotent and omniprudent great God of heaven and earth, having by his unſearchable wiſdom, unreſiſtible power, and moſt pure and inculpable righteouſneſſe, from all eternitie both fore-ſeen and preordained the wayes and means of manifeſting and declaring to the world his two eſpeciall and moſt glorious attributes of MercieMercy and Juſtice; MercieMercy on his elect and choice veſſels of honour, and juſtice on the forſaken veſſels of wrath, thoſe devoted vaſſals of the devill, and both theſe in that admirable Maſter-piece of his workmanſhip of the world, Man. Who, as the Prophet David ſaies of himſelf, was fearfully and wonderfully made: And, for this and and purpoſe having put this excellent creature, Mans happineſſe.Man, into a moſt pure and perfectly holy condition, placing him in Eden or Paradiſe, a place of moſt wonderfull delight, and admirable varietie of ſenſe-affecting contentments; and having alſo given him an abſolute power to have perſiſted and continued in that holy and bleſſed eſtate. Satan, that ſubtill and accurſed Serpent, and that arch-enemie of Satans fall, fo… pride.mans holineſſe and happineſſe, being by ſelf-pride and arrogancie thruſt out of heaven, and thrown headlong into hell, and ſo to abide to all eternitie, in an unrecoverable curſed eſtate of damnation; Hereupon being become Gods enemie, extremely envied that holy and happie condition of Gods Satan tempts man.(then) darling, Mankind, and therefore, to bring his malignant ſpight to the iſſue he aymed at, fals a belying of God to man▪ tempts and at laſt deludes man, makes him fall into his ſin, pride and diſobedience, thus, prevails in his project, and thereby made man, unhappie man as miſerable as himſelf, by Mans fall.being, for ſin, deprived and diveſted of his former fair rooes of beautie and holineſſe, and depraved and poyſoned in his whole ſoul and body with ſin and uncleanneſſe, and thus in himſelf a forlorn creature, perpetually liable to Gods wrath, and ſo conſequently to eternall damnation. But, now, God Iob 33. 24. …uk▪ 1. 69.out of his infinite wiſdom and merciemercy found out a ranſome and mighty Redeemer for man (even ſo many as he had predeſtinated to ſalvation) the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the ſecond perſon in Mans reſtauration, by the promiſed-Seed.Trinity. In whom, and by whom, even this promiſed ſeed of the deceived woman, the Lord reſolved to repay and revenge Satans malice and miſchief to man; promiſing, that though Satan by mans fall had bruiſed the womans heel; yet her ſeed the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhould (by a ſtrange way) break his head, even by his death be Satans death and deſtruction. And hereupon A combat denounced twixt the womans ſeed and the Serpents-ſeed.the Lord God denounced an everlaſting combate and irreconcilible enmity between theſe two and their off-ſpring to the end of the world, namely, Chriſt, and the reſt of the holyſeed of the woman even all the ſucceeding Saints & choſen-children of God in Chriſt: And, the Devil and his angels, even all the deſperate profane-ones and craftie hypocrites of the world, who ſhould from time to time, in all ages, moſt maliciouſly harbor in their hearts a natural antipathie againſt the godly to hate and deſpiſe them, and therewith alſo take pleaſure and delight in plotting and practiſing all miſchief and villanie toward them, though (God in his wiſdom and mercy having ſo graciouſly ordered it) alwayes, for the moſt part, with illſucceſſe to themſelves in the iſſue: God, who is moſt faithfull and able to perform, having promiſed to be with his Church, Matt. 28. 20.in a way of protection and preſervation, even to the end of the world. Now thus you have briefly ſeen the combate decreed, and the combatants alſo to maintain the warfare: whereby The cauſe of the Combate.the Church of God is put into a truly militant condition, and daily conſtrained to exerciſe its ſpirituall Militia (as the wicked do their Malitia againſt them) and to be alwaies armed, not onelyonly with the whole armour of God, ſpoken of by the Apoſtle Epheſ. 6. but alſo with worldly weapons and humane power and prudence to defend themſelves and offend their enemies as God ſhall enable them. But if you ask me, now, the cauſe of their quarrell, the reaſon and ground of the grudge and clandeſtine hatred which the wicked of the world bear to the holy and humble Saints and ſervants of the Lord? Truly, the anſwer is eaſie and at hand, yea the Apoſtle hath made it 1 Ioh. 3. 1….for me, who by way of argumentation asks himſelf the very ſame queſtion, touching Cain and Abel, Wherefore did Cain, who was of that wicked-one (the devill) kill his godly brother Abel? Becauſe (ſaies he) his own works were evill, and his brothers righteous. Religion, innocent-religion and true Holineſſe True religion.is the great eye-ſore to the ungodly, and therefore (as the ſaid Apoſtle in the ſame place, ver. 13.) marvell not that the world hates them.
This, then, I ſay, is the main-ground of the quarrell betwixt theſe two combitants; which hot combuſtion and contention, The proſecution of the Combate.as it hath been fiercely followed in all ages paſt, from the beginning of the world, and will be ſo till the end thereof: So, it was never more miſchievouſly manifeſted to be ſo, than in theſe our dayes, I mean, for, at leaſt, theſe two or three hundred yeers laſt paſt, to this preſent time; and that, in all the parts of Europe, eſpecially by the Papiſts or Romiſh Catholiques, as they In France, Germanie, England, Scotland, &c.call themſelves againſt the Hugonets, in France, Lutherans and Calveniſts in Germanie, and Proteſtants in England, Scotland, and Ireland; and in brief, by the Romiſh Antichriſt, againſt the Reformed-Chriſtian in all parts. And the implacable rage of this arch-adverſarie of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath far tranſcended all the malice and miſchief of all former ages cruelties, both of the old Aſſyrians and Philiſtines to the ancient Iſra…lit…s, or the laſt ten perſecuting heathen-Emperours to the Primitive-Chriſtians. The ill-ſucceſſe of the malignant Combatants.But, as in all thoſe former ages, the more Satan, by his impious agents and wicked inſtruments, hath with inveterate vexations and extremeſt perſecutions mangled and maligned the people of God: So, the more propitiouſly God hath preſerved and encreaſed them, like innumerable Phenixes riſing and reviving out of their dead aſhes, fully confirming that old The blood of the Saints is the ſeed of the Church.adagie, The blood of the Saints is the ſeed of the Church. This truth, in both its branches hath been alſo moſt copiouſly confirmed in theſe our more modern times, and chiefly (I may well ſay) in this our Kingdom of England, among all the Nations of Europe (Germany onelyonly and Ireland excepted at this time fo… cruelties but not for preſervations) which hath taſted the bitterdrafts of Romes wrath in a deep meaſure; and yet the more this Antichriſtian enemie hath raged againſt Chriſt and his faithfull ſervants againſt the Goſpel and its true profeſſors, the leſſe he hath prevailed; and the more they have encreaſed to the glory of God, and the terrour and amazement of the wicked of the world; Their divelliſh and deſperate aymes having been deceived in the iſſue (as was toucht before) and God having faithfully performed his good word and promiſe to his Matth. 28. 20.Church and children to be with them, and for them, to the end of Pſal. 34. 19. Mans neceſſity is Gods opportunitie.the world; And though he ſuffers them (oft-times) to be cloſely and ſtrictly hem'd in on all ſides with great ſtraits and diſtreſſes, yet their greateſt neceſſities have ever proved Gods faireſt and fitteſt opportunities to be ſeen in the Mount for their deliverance; even then (I ſay) when the enemie thought to have ſwallowed them up quick, without all humane hope of redemption and redreſſe, then, yea even then, hath our good God alwayes (for the moſt part) plucked the prey out of their devouring jaws, broke the Pſal. 35. 17.cheeks and teeth of the ungodly▪ and reſcued and recovered his darling (the Church) from the Lyons-den, their deſtinied deſtruction. Which is the main ſcope and drift of our intentions, at this time, and in this Treatiſe▪ even to make clear to the eyes and underſtanding of all the world that will not wilfully blind them, and obſtinately ſhut them up from beholding the evident ſun-ſhine of the truth, in the ſubſequent and moſt luculent demonſtrations England the Land-mark of Gods mercies.thereof, in this Kingdom of England after a ſpeciall manner, which, God hath graciouſly made the very Land-mark of all his rich mercies, to the everlaſting glory of his great Name, and free grace unto us, a moſt ſinfull and undeſerving Nation, as we have been, and that in the midſt of ſuch means and miracles of mercies which he hath conferred on us, and wrought for us, above all our neighbour Nations round about us.
Now, herein, my purpoſe is (omitting many former mercies to our Land of high concernment, and moſt worthy of everlaſting The Pope began to be puſht-down by, King Hen. 8. King Edw. 6. Queen Elizabeth.and indelible thankfull remembrance, as the ſhaking off of the Antichriſtian ſhackles and yoke of Poperie, begun in the dayes of King Henry the eighth and his moſt bleſſed Son, King Edward the ſixth, but eſpecially in the happie halcyon-dayes of Queen Elizabeths reign, of ever moſt bleſſed memorie; Since whoſe moſt bleſſed dayes and times we have enjoyed the Goſpel of peace, and peace of the Goſpel, almoſt theſe hundred yeers (and now are not onelyonly Proteſtants but moſt bleſſedly begin to be reformed Proteſtants) notwithſtanding the many moſt nefarious and treacherous plots, againſt her ſacred perſon, happily Spaniſh-Armado. 1588. Powder-plot by Papiſts, 1605.defeated; the falſly ſo termed, Invincible Spaniſh Armado, in 1588▪ and the moſt exorbitant and hell-hatch't Powder-plot, by thoſe Romiſh traytors, Garnet a grand-Jeſuite and his twelve impious apoſtles, in the yeer, 1605, by heavens vigilant eye of providence timely prevented, together with many private and pernicious conjurations or conſpiracies, not ſo much by force as by fraud clandeſtinely machinated, and by Gods merciemercy fruitleſly The main occaſion of this Treatiſe.attempted; enough to fill up voluminous Treatiſes, and inf…it…ly to magnifie Gods endleſſe praiſes) all which, I ſay, here, to omit, my purpoſe and main intention is, as I fore promiſed (by the bleſſed aſſiſtance of Gods gracious Spirit) to manifeſt and declare to all (who vouchſafe the patient and impartiall peruſall hereof) all the memorable and wonder-ſtriking Parliamentary Parliamentarie-Mercies.mercies effected for and afforded unto this our Engliſh Nation, (mauger the malice of Hell and Rome, Papists and profane Atheists, Satans active and able agents) with inthe ſpace of leſſe than two yeers laſt paſt, 1641, and 1642.
And for the better and more exact ſetting forth of the moſt illuſtrious luſtre and glorious beautie of theſe incomparable parliamentarie-pledges of Gods undoubted love and free favour toward us, my intention is, firſt, to ſhew my Reader, the cloudy-Mountain The Mount of Straits.of Straits, into which, the Lord had in his wiſdom and juſtice brought us, or rather ſuffered us to be drawn and driven into for our ſins and tranſgreſſions; and then the ſweet The Mount of Mercies.and ſerene-Mountain of Mercies, wherein God was moſt gloriouſly ſeen (of his meer merciemercy) for our moſt timely and happie deliverance. I mean, I ſay, to let the godly Reader ſee the deep diſtreſſe and danger whereinto we were plunged by the nefarious Ieſuiticall-Prieſts and pontifick Prelates like Simeon and Levi.and multifarious plots and projects of Jeſuiticall-Prieſts and perfidious Prelates (for I may moſt juſtly couple and link them together, like Simeon and Levi, brothers in iniquitie) of theſe our late and worſt times, and other moſt diſloyall atheisticallagents in theſe deſperate deſignes, all of them faithleſſe factors for the See of Rome, all of them complotting and contriving to reduce us to the accurſed Romiſh religion, yea all of them combining and confederating to work and weave our three famous and flouriſhing Kingdoms, England, Scotland and Irelands fatall and finall rui…e and downfall. This being done▪ I ſhall endeavour, by Gods aſſiſtance, moſt punctually to promulgate and moſt exactly to record, to poſterity, thoſe even myriades of remarkable mercies conferred on us to ſtrange amazement and deep admiration of all truly pious and faithfull Contrarie juxta ſe poſita, mag is illuceſcunt. Dangers and Deliverances oppoſed ſhew the more gloriouſly.Chriſtians. That thus, contraries being ſet together in an exact Antitheſis or oppoſition, they may both appear the more apparently to the eyes and underſtanding of ingenuous and judicious beholders; that thus, I ſay, the dangers being ſeriouſly conſidered and worthily weighed, the mercies may the more gloriouſly break forth, like the Suns glorious rayes and heartcheering bright beams, after a thick and black cloudie ſtorm and heart-damping tempeſt, and that thus, I ſay, the god y Reader ruminating and recollecting Both in his ſad and ſerious re-cogitations, may juſtly and ingenuouſly acknowledge, that, God was in the Mount, for our Deliverance.
Now, herein, for my better and more methodicall proceeding in this renowned Storie, I have reſolved to make our moſt The firſt Parliamentarie-Remonſtrance.famous and renowned Parliamentarie-Worthies firſt Remonſtrance, (wherein all our Kingdoms heavie preſſures and oppreſſions are ſummarily and ſuccinctly even to the life delineated) my moſt worthily imitable copie and pattern to write by: but in theſe I intend to be as conciſe and brief, as conveniently may be, becauſe my chief ayme and reſolution is …o haſten to the copious and comfortable narration and deſcription of our Parliamentarie-Mercies and Deliverances, to the everlaſting glorie and precious praiſe of our great and good God, and that, at the rare and faire ſight and cordiall contemplation of them, the godly Reader may break out, in an extaſie of holy and heavenly joy and ſay, with holy David, Truly, Pſal. 73. 1.God is good to his Engliſh Iſrael, and to all therein, of an upright heart.
Wherefore, now, to pretermit all further ambages and circumlocutions, and to addreſſe my ſelf ſeriouſly to the matter intended, I ſhall firſt (with my moſt worthie-Maſters) briefly The root and growth of this their plot.declare the root and growth of their miſchievous deſignes, and the rice of our dangerous eſtate thereby. Secondly, the maturity and ripeneſſe to which the malignant partie had hatcht and cheriſht it, before the beginning of this Parliament. Thirdly, The ripeneſſe of it.the efficacious means uſed for the eradicating and rooting up of this evill weed ſo rank-grown in the garden of the Kingdom; The means of curing it.both by the Kings royall aſſiſtance and Heavens bleſſing on the Parliaments great wiſdom, induſtrie and providence. Fourthly, the bold affronts and audacious obſtructions and oppoſitions The boyling obſtructions againſt the cure.to interrupt and check the Parliaments fair and faithfull progreſſe and proceedings therein all along. Fifthly and laſtly, the counter-checking means uſed to annihilate and make void thoſe obſtacles and impediments which ſo retarded The counter-checking of thoſeobſtacles.the fair fabrick and comely ſtructure of a happie reformation of thoſe ſuperfluous and rank-grown evils, and of redintegrating and re-eſtabliſhing the ancient honour and ſecurity of this Crown and Nation, even by a Parliamentarie-power, the onelyonly remedie left (under God▪ to prop-up the tottering State, to force away our over-flowing fears, and to heal the mortall wounds and ſores of our diſtreſſed Land.
The root and r…ce of the plot was, The Complotters.Now the root and rice of all the plot was found to be a pernicious woven knot of malignant active ſpirits combining and confederating together for the ſupplanting and utter ſubverting of the fundamentall Laws and principles of government▪ on which the religion and government of the Kingdom were firmly eſtabliſht: And thoſe actors and promoters were fi…ſt and principally, Jeſuited-Papiſts Jeſuited-Papiſts.whoſe teeth had long watered for▪ and whoſe eager appetites had long hungred after the ſubverſion of our Religion. Secondly, perfidious and rotten-hearted Prelates and Arminian-pontificians, who mightily (and maliciouſly) cheriſhing Prelates and Pontificians.formality, or conformity and ſuperſtition, greedily alſo gaped after a change in Religion, or at the leaſt, the outragious ſupporting of their Eecleſiaſticall-tyrannie and uſurpation. Thirdly, Profane and irreligious Courtiers.profane, irreligious, and even atheiſticall Courtiers, and Councellours of State, who for their own private and beggarly ends had engaged themſelves (as being, doubtleſſe, mercenarie penſioners) to forrein Princes, to the prejudice of their own naturall Their Principles to work by.King and the State at home. And, as you have ſeen the agents were potent and politick: So, the common principles by which they moulded and managed their craftie counſels and impious actions were as pragmaticall as prejudiciall. As, fi…ſt, to To ſet the King & people at jarres about Prerogatives and Liberties.work and win the King to ſtand ſtifly to his Royall-prerogative, and the people for the maintenance of their Priviledges and Liberties, that thus they might have the advantage by ſiding with the King againſt the Subject, and ſo to be counted his fasteſt friends and truſtie ſervants, and thereby engroſſe to themſelves and their factious confederates all places of greateſt truſ… and power in the Kingdom; that ſo they might the more ſafely fiſh in troubled waters. Secondly, to ſuppreſſe and ſtifle the ſacred To ſuppreſſe the power and purity of Religion.puritie and power of religion, and to curb and keep-under all of all degrees that were beſt affected to it, in profeſſion and practiſe, theſe being ſore pearls in their eyes, and the greateſt impediments to that change which their voracicus and eager appetites extremely longed and laboured to introduce among us. Thirdly, To countenance all their own, and to diſgrace all the oppoſite party.to countenance and encourage their own faſt faction, and on all colourable occaſions, to diſgrace, vilifie, and diſhearten all the oppoſite partie. Fourthly and laſtly, by ſlanders and falſe imputations to work the King to an utter-diſlike of Parliaments, and putting him on unjuſt and forcible wayes of ſupply, yet masking To cauſe the King to diſaffect Parliaments.them with fair pretences of great and juſt advantage to his Majeſtie, though indeed they brought more loſſe than gain to him, and great diſtreſſe and diſtractions to the whole Kingdom.
And thus have you ſummarily ſeen the Baſis or foundation of their building; now be pleaſed with as much brevitie as may be, to behold what a fair fabrick and ſtately ſtructure they raiſed Note this wel.and erected on it. And here by the way, take notice of this diffuſive ſememting-materiall, or bracing-piece conglutinating or holding faſt the body of the whole enſuing frame; namely, that in all the compacted and conioyned ligaments of this omi…ousarchitecture, the Jeſuites craftie counſell, and as wicked as wittie wilineſſe was inſtead of a prime architector or Maſter Builder of the whole edifice; and had they not all been (by Gods overpow'ring providence) timely prevented, theſe Jeſuiticall-Artificers would undoubtedly have over-builded the Prelaticall-Labourers, and inſtead of a new, have pul'd down an old-houſe on the heads of all the reſt of thoſe as credulous, as accurſed cooperating Carpinters or work-men with them, in this their Babell of confuſion.
Primo regis Caroli, o…us ſerveſ…ere caepit. This plot wa… firſt machinated in King Iames his dayes. The firſt Parliament at Oxford diſſolved. Sad effects of the diſſolution of that firſt Parliament. Rochel loſt. Weſt Indie voyage diverted. C…es attempted. Peace with Spain without Parliaments conſent. The Palſgraves cauſe deſerted. Billetted▪ Souldiers over the Kingdom▪ German. horſe A ſecond Parliament diſſolved.And, now, in the firſt yeer of the Kings reign, their work began to be revived, and hotly to be ſet upon again. For, it is here to be conſidered that in the laſt yeer of King James his reign it had been ſomewhat dampt and qu…ſht▪ both by the breach with Spain, that yeer, as alſo by his Majeſties marriage with France, whoſe people were not ſo contrary unto, nor ſo hotly active againſt the good of Religion, and proſperitie of this Kingdom as thoſe of Spain; and beſides the Papiſts in England being more zealouſly addicted and affected (for matter of Religion) to Spain, than France; yet ſtill they retained a reſolution to weaken the Proteſtant-partie in all parts and places of Europe, yea, even in France▪ thereby to make way for an intended change at home.
The firſt effect and evidence of which their recoverie of ſtrength was the diſſolution of the firſt Parliament at Oxford, after two Subſidies granted, but no grievances removed. After which, many other bitter effects of this bad begi…ing followed, or rather flowed and guſhed-out apace; as namely, the loſſe of Rochel Fleet, yea of Rochel it ſelf (a lamentable evill to the French-Proteſtants) by the unhappie help of our ſhips. The diverſion of a moſt facile and hopefull war from the W…ſt-Indies to a moſt expenſive and ſucceſſeleſſe attempt on Cal…s; ra…her to make us weary of warre than proſpe…ous in it. The precipitate breach of peace with France. A peace concluded with Spain, without conſent of a Parliament, contrary to promiſe made by King James to both Houſes, whereby the Palatine c…u…e was ſhamefully deſerted by us. The Kingdom ſoon charged with billetted Souldiers, together with the concomitant project of Germane-horſes to enforce men by …ear to all arbitrarie taxations. The diſſolution of a ſecond Parliament▪ in the ſecond yeer of his Majeſties reign, after a declarative intention of granting Sad events on the breach of this Parliament alſo.five Subſidies. Violent exacting the ſaid ſumme, or a ſum equivalent to it, by a Commiſſion of Loan▪ Divers worthy gentlemen impriſoned for refuſing to pay it. Great ſummes of money extorted from ſubjects by Privie-Seals and Exciſe. The moſt A third Parliamentdiſſolved.hopefull Petition of Right blaſted in the bloſſome of it. A third Parliament called, and as quickly broken, and therein Parliamentari… By which cruell uſage Sir Iohn Ell…ot a moſt worthy Member of the Houſe and pious patriot, died then in priſon.priviledges violated, by after ill-uſage of ſome of the beſt and worthi…ſt Members thereof, who were clapt▪up in cloſe-impriſonment, denied all ordinarie and extraordinarie comforts of this life, and preſervation of health, no not ſo much as their wives permitted to come unto them, yea deprived of ſpirituall conſolation for their ſouls, not ſuffering them to go to Gods Houſe for enjoyment of publike Ordinances, or godly Miniſters to come to them, but kept them ſtill in this oppreſſive condition, not admitting them to be bailed according to Law. More bad iſſues on the breach of the third Parliament.And this crueltie might have been perpetuall to them and others, had not another Parliament been neceſſitated to relieve and releaſe them. Upon the diſſolution of thoſe Parliaments, O what ſcandalous and opprobrious Declarations were publiſhed to aſperſe and beſmear their proceedings, and ſome of their wo… thieſt Parliaments & Parliament Members mightily vilified and diſgraced. Quarto CaroliMembers, unjuſtly to make them odious; and the better to colour their exorbitant violence exerciſed on them, Proclamations ſet out to thoſe effects, thereby alſo extremely diſheartning the Subjects, yea and forbidding them once ſo much as to ſpeak of any mo Parliaments, this being in the fourth yeer of the Kings reign. Then, injuſtice, violence and heavie oppreſſions, without all limits o… moderation, brakeout upon the people, like unreſiſtible floods guſhing out of a broken-down Dam or ſtoppage with huge inundations, checking, yea even choaking all our freedomes, and faſt fettering our free-born hearts with manacles and chains of moſt intolerable Knight-hood money. Tonnage and Poundage. Book of Rates.taxations. Witneſſe, the mighty ſums of money gotten by that plot of Knighthood, under a fair colour of Law, but, i… deed, a meer violation of juſtice. Tonnage alſo and poundage received without any pretext or colour of Law The book of Rat…s inhanſed to an high proportion. A new and unheard of (yet Ship-money.moſt heavie) taxation over the whole Kingdom, by Ship-money; Both theſe under a colour of guarding the Seas, by which there was charged on the Subject neer upon 700000▪ li. ſome yeers, and yet, Merchants conſtantly left naked to the violent robberies of Turkiſh-pirates, to the great loſ…e of many fair Ships and much goods, and impriſonment of their bodies in Forreſts enlarged. Coat & Conduct-money. Traind-bands Arms taken away. Gun-powder engroſſ…d. The Forreſt of Dean. Many Motheating Monopolies. Reſtraint of habitations & trading.moſt miſerable bonds of Turkiſh-ſlaverie. The enlargement of Forreſts, contrary to Magna Charta. The exaction of Coat and Conduct-money. The forcible taking away of the Train'd-band Arms. The deſperate deſigne of Gunpowder engroſſed into their hands, and kept from the Subject in the Tower of London, and not to be had thence, but at exceſſive rates and prices. The deſtruction of the Forreſt of Dean, that famous timber-Magazine or Store-houſe of the whole Kingdom, ſold to Papiſts. The canker-eating Monopolies of Sope, Salt, Wine, Leather, Sea-cole, and almoſt all things in the Kingdom of moſt neceſſarie and common uſe. Reſtraint of Subjects liberties in their habitations and trades, and other juſt intereſts; together with many other intolerable burthens which poore Iſachars ſhoulders were not able to bear, but grievouſly to groan under (and which for brevities ſake I deſire to paſſe over, as not being my main intention to inſiſt on, but to haſten to our moſt happie deliverance from them) for refuſall of which fore-ſaid heavie preſſures, O what great numbers of his Majeſties loyall Subjects Corporall …xations and puniſhments inflicted on many good Subjects.have been vext with long and languiſhing ſuits, ſome fined and confined to priſons, to the loſſe of health in many, of life in ſome; ſome having their houſes broke-open, and their goods ſeized on, ſome interrupted in their Sea voyages, and their ſhips taken in an hoſtile manner by Projectors, as by a common enemie. The Court of Star-Chamber having chiefly fomented and Star-Chamber Court a main fomenter of Suits and Cenſures.encreaſed theſe & ſuch like moſt extravagant cenſures & moſt unjuſt ſuits, both for the improvement of devouring Monopolies, and of divers other cauſes wherein hath been none or very ſmall offences, yea ſometimes for meer pretences and ſurmiſes without any proofs, yet puniſht as ſeverely as fouleſt malefactors, yea and that, in matters of Religion and ſpirituall caſes of conſcience, for which the good Subject hath been grievouſly Oppreſſions for Religion and Caſes of Conſcience.oppreſſed by Fines, Impriſonments, ſtigmatizings▪ mutilations, whippings, pillories, gaggs, confinements, baniſhments, yea and that into perpetuall cloſe-impriſonments in the moſt deſolate remote (and as they hoped and intended …emorſleſſe) parts of the Kingdom, and that alſo, in ſuch rough and rigid manner, as No l…ſſe than tranſcendent barbarous crueltie. Iudges diſplaced and diſcountenanced for their honeſtie. The Privie-Councill Table, a great favourer of theſe illegalities.hath not onelyonly deprived them of the ſocietie of neer and dear friends, exerciſe of their profeſſions, comfort of books, uſe of poper or ink, but even violating that neereſt-union which God hath eſtabliſht twixt men and their wives by forced and conſtrained ſeparation. Judges alſo put out of their places for refuſing to do ought againſt their oaths and conſciences, others ſo over-awed, that they durſt not do their duties. Lawyers checkt for faithfulneſſe to their Clients, and threatned, yea puniſhed for honeſtly following lawfull ſuits. The Privie Councill alſo a mightie maintainer and proſecuter of illegall-ſuits againſt the Subject The Court of Honour, Chancery, Exchequer-Chamber, Court of Wards, and almoſt all other Engliſh-Courts have been exceeding grievous in their exceſſive iuriſdictions. Titles of Honour, Selling of juſtice, and places of judicature.places of Judicature, Serieant-ſhips at Law, and other offices of truſt have been ſold for great ſummes of money; and they that buy muſt needs ſell. And thereby alſo occaſion hath been given too frequently, of brib…rie, extortion, and partiality, it being, indeed, ſeldome ſeen that places ill-gotten ſhould be welluſed. Theſe and ſuch like Land-devouring enormities, have been countenanced and practiſed in our long-languiſhing Common-wealth.